MOTIONS
Senator HANSON (Queensland—Leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Pauline Hanson's One Nation Whip) (13:00): My comments are basically going to be directed to the Australian people and those in the Senate that are here today to hear my comments. I am pleased now to be given the opportunity to explain myself. I was denied that right yesterday.
Yesterday I brought up a bill to amend the Criminal Code to ban the burqa and full-face coverings in public places. I was denied the right to move that bill—denied the right. I was elected a member of parliament by the people of Queensland to represent them—and the whole of the nation, actually, for that matter.
I was denied the right by the Senate to move my bill, to actually debate it on the floor of parliament. You denied me and the people of Australia to have that voice. You chose to shut it down.
This is not the first time you've done it to me. You've done it a number of times. The parliamentarians that are here—the senators that were elected by the Australian people—dare question me over my respect for this place?
The senators in this place have no respect for the Australian people when they have an elected member who wants to move something and to represent them and have a say. If there was no concern over banning of the burqa or full-face coverings, why did you stop me? Why not have the debate?
Why not put your case forward? I would put my case forward, but you wouldn't even allow that. You decided what you wanted based purely on your own ideology of what you think is right.
You disregard the people of this nation by not allowing me to have a say on their behalf. This has been raised to me many times. The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, could you direct your comments to me, please.
Senator HANSON: Yes. Also what I want to raise is that even recently, on Australian National Flag Day, I and one other senator draped the Australian flag across our shoulders. We were told to remove it by those that it offended.
In this place, the heart of our democracy, we can't even show any love or respect for our flag, which flies in the chamber. But, no, others wanted it removed, and that was the Greens. They wanted it removed because they didn't want it seen.
Senator Hanson-Young: It's a prop. Senator HANSON: When you actually— The PRESIDENT: Senator Hanson, I'm sorry; would you resume your seat for a moment. Senator Hanson will be heard in silence.
If you can't give her that respect, leave the chamber. There will be no calling out. Senator HANSON: Thank you very much.
This censure motion, at (h), says: censures Senator Hanson for her actions, which do not reflect the opinions of the Australian Senate or the Australian people. I reject that completely. To say that I don't have respect for people of faith—I reject that as well.
I have stood up for the Jewish people of this community. I'm not Jewish. But the way they were treated by some of the people in this chamber, including the Greens wearing a keffiyeh, wasn't pulled up at all.
The whole fact is that everyone has a right to their own faith, and I respect section 116 of the Australian Constitution, where the Commonwealth cannot impose any religious observance on anyone. I must inform my fellow senators who say the burqa is a religious requirement that it's not. Wearing the burqa is not a religious requirement.
The burqa is culturally worn by some people of Islamic faith, but it is not a religious requirement. It has been imposed on women who are forced to wear it by their husbands, brothers, fathers, whatever; they're forced to wear it. I think it's so hypocritical that you're supposed to be defending women's rights but you're not fighting for these women being forced to wear a burqa, full-face coverings, against their will.
I think Senator Faruqi is calling the kettle black, after her racism on the floor when protesting against the Palestinians. And I've never called anyone by their skin colour, as I have been accused of. (Time expired) Senator Faruqi: Where's the apology?
The PRESIDENT: Order! My goodness. When I ask for order, it applies to every single senator in this place.
No-one is excluded.